Spotlight on Wildings Bookshop

Wildlings Bookshop opened their space inside Wilson’s Grocery in the cozy Kenwick neighborhood of Lexington, KY in August 2025. The store sits alongside bungalows, busy sidewalks, and a vibrant community. They carry a fun and curious selection of books for babies through teens, plus some cookbooks and books for adults as well. According to their website, the bookshop is “mostly for kids, [...] inspired by a love of nature, art, dreaming and everyday magic.”

The store partially funded its opening through an Indiegogo campaign that raised more than $6,000. Owner Jill Bastin said that the community reception of the store has been phenomenal. Bastin is also a commercial interior designer, and those skills have been useful in designing the bookstore.

Wildlings holds a weekly storytime that engages not just children, but teachers, parents, council members, artists, musicians, and more to participate. Their top priority as a new store is to get their name out there more. They want to encourage new adventures and focus on the things they love: reading, making, music, art, movement, and play. Most of all, they want to give the community a welcoming space for children (and their grown-ups!) that will “be a beacon of light and positivity in our community, for the littlest among us to stop on their little daily journeys and find some everyday magic.”

You can follow Wildlings Bookshop at @wildlings_bookshop and visit their website at https://www.wildlingsbookshop.com.